CA2077880A1 - Method of supplying energy through medium of methanol - Google Patents
Method of supplying energy through medium of methanolInfo
- Publication number
- CA2077880A1 CA2077880A1 CA002077880A CA2077880A CA2077880A1 CA 2077880 A1 CA2077880 A1 CA 2077880A1 CA 002077880 A CA002077880 A CA 002077880A CA 2077880 A CA2077880 A CA 2077880A CA 2077880 A1 CA2077880 A1 CA 2077880A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- methanol
- energy
- water
- carbon dioxide
- hydrogen
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- OKKJLVBELUTLKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Methanol Chemical compound OC OKKJLVBELUTLKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 245
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 21
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 68
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 41
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 34
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 32
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 30
- 238000003786 synthesis reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 30
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 28
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 28
- 238000000354 decomposition reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 26
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 23
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon monoxide Chemical compound [O+]#[C-] UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 229910002091 carbon monoxide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 6
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- VUZPPFZMUPKLLV-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane;hydrate Chemical compound C.O VUZPPFZMUPKLLV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 229940057952 methanol Drugs 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000005868 electrolysis reaction Methods 0.000 abstract description 9
- 150000002431 hydrogen Chemical class 0.000 abstract description 6
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 238000004064 recycling Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000002803 fossil fuel Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005265 energy consumption Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Natural products C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000003208 petroleum Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000013535 sea water Substances 0.000 description 2
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000006227 byproduct Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002939 deleterious effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-ZSJDYOACSA-N heavy water Substances [2H]O[2H] XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-ZSJDYOACSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000011835 investigation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007774 longterm Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002062 proliferating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002311 subsequent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008400 supply water Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010792 warming Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003643 water by type Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01K—STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES
- F01K23/00—Plants characterised by more than one engine delivering power external to the plant, the engines being driven by different fluids
- F01K23/02—Plants characterised by more than one engine delivering power external to the plant, the engines being driven by different fluids the engine cycles being thermally coupled
- F01K23/06—Plants characterised by more than one engine delivering power external to the plant, the engines being driven by different fluids the engine cycles being thermally coupled combustion heat from one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle
- F01K23/064—Plants characterised by more than one engine delivering power external to the plant, the engines being driven by different fluids the engine cycles being thermally coupled combustion heat from one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle in combination with an industrial process, e.g. chemical, metallurgical
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02C—GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F02C3/00—Gas-turbine plants characterised by the use of combustion products as the working fluid
- F02C3/20—Gas-turbine plants characterised by the use of combustion products as the working fluid using a special fuel, oxidant, or dilution fluid to generate the combustion products
- F02C3/26—Gas-turbine plants characterised by the use of combustion products as the working fluid using a special fuel, oxidant, or dilution fluid to generate the combustion products the fuel or oxidant being solid or pulverulent, e.g. in slurry or suspension
- F02C3/28—Gas-turbine plants characterised by the use of combustion products as the working fluid using a special fuel, oxidant, or dilution fluid to generate the combustion products the fuel or oxidant being solid or pulverulent, e.g. in slurry or suspension using a separate gas producer for gasifying the fuel before combustion
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24V—COLLECTION, PRODUCTION OR USE OF HEAT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F24V30/00—Apparatus or devices using heat produced by exothermal chemical reactions other than combustion
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E20/00—Combustion technologies with mitigation potential
- Y02E20/32—Direct CO2 mitigation
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
- Liquid Carbonaceous Fuels (AREA)
Abstract
7. ABSTRACT
A method of supplying energy through the medium of methanol which comprises electrolysis of water, synthesis of methanol from recovered carbon dioxide and hydrogen obtained in the preceding step, methanol combus-tion for the production of energy, and recovery of carbon dioxide that has resulted from the combustion of methanol.
Alternatively, the step of electrolysis of water is followed by synthesis of methanol from hydrogen obtained in the preceding step, recovered carbon dioxide, and recov-ered hydrogen, methanol decomposition by given energy for separation of methanol into carbon monoxide and hydrogen, carbon monoxide combustion for burning carbon monoxide to give energy and recover the resulting carbon dioxide, and recycling of the hydrogen that has resulted from the methanol decomposition to the process of methanol synthesis.
A method of supplying energy through the medium of methanol which comprises electrolysis of water, synthesis of methanol from recovered carbon dioxide and hydrogen obtained in the preceding step, methanol combus-tion for the production of energy, and recovery of carbon dioxide that has resulted from the combustion of methanol.
Alternatively, the step of electrolysis of water is followed by synthesis of methanol from hydrogen obtained in the preceding step, recovered carbon dioxide, and recov-ered hydrogen, methanol decomposition by given energy for separation of methanol into carbon monoxide and hydrogen, carbon monoxide combustion for burning carbon monoxide to give energy and recover the resulting carbon dioxide, and recycling of the hydrogen that has resulted from the methanol decomposition to the process of methanol synthesis.
Description
SPECIFICATION
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION
METHOD OF SUPPLYING ENERGY THROUGH MEDIUM OF METHANOL
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION
METHOD OF SUPPLYING ENERGY THROUGH MEDIUM OF METHANOL
2. FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT
The present invention relates to a method of supplying energy through the medium of methanol, and more particularly to a method of energy supply which theoretically involves no energy attenuation during transmission or storage and is applicable, above all, to long-distance transmission or long-term storage of energy.
As is commonly known, the energy that the human being consumes today is mostly derived from fossil fuels such as petroleum.
However, petroleum that makes up a large percentage of fossil fuel supply is limited in reserve.
In addition, various exhaust and other emissions re-sulting from the use of fossil fuels have increasingly im-paired the global environment and life on the earth including the humans. It has been warned that even though the fossil energy reserves do not pose a problem, irreparable environ-mental disruption will result if things are left as they are.
In recent years, among the exhaust emissions, carbon dioxide has become largely responsible for the phenomenon of global warming since far more carbon dioxide is being pro-duced than is recovered by nature. There is a strong demand, 20778~0 therefore, for the reduction of its overall production.
Investigations have thus far been made on the replace-ment of fossil fuels by other energy sources. Utilization of powers such as of solar heat, winds, waves, temperature difference between surface and deep-sea waters, and also of geothermal and nuclear powers has been studied and partly carried into practice.
Harnessing the energies from these sources for indus-trial and other uses, however, requires large-scale instal-lations exclusively designed for the particular purposes.The sites where such exclusive installations can be built are restricted to specific locations, usually remote from the energy-consuming urban areas.
If energy were transmitted from the site of such an exclusive installation all the way to a consuming area, as converted to electric energy as is customary in the art, the cost of transmission facilities and the energy loss involved would be quite enormous.
Transmission of energy in the form of light or heat is out of question because the energy would diminish before being transferred a distance of only several kilometers.
Assuming that a solar heat power plant was built some-where in a vast desert or highland, e.g., the Sahara, Arabi-an, or Australian desert, or the Tibet highland, it would be practically impossible in Japan to utilize the electric 2D778~
energy from that plant. Wherever located, the plant would be tens of thousands of kilometers away from this country, and the transmission line from the plant would have to cross an ocean or oceans.
S In municipal and suburban areas electricity is avail-able readily and relatively inexpensively at a late-night discount. Nevertheless, the recipients of the service are limited, and more effective utilization of the midnight power supply is desired.
The present invention relates to a method of supplying energy through the medium of methanol, and more particularly to a method of energy supply which theoretically involves no energy attenuation during transmission or storage and is applicable, above all, to long-distance transmission or long-term storage of energy.
As is commonly known, the energy that the human being consumes today is mostly derived from fossil fuels such as petroleum.
However, petroleum that makes up a large percentage of fossil fuel supply is limited in reserve.
In addition, various exhaust and other emissions re-sulting from the use of fossil fuels have increasingly im-paired the global environment and life on the earth including the humans. It has been warned that even though the fossil energy reserves do not pose a problem, irreparable environ-mental disruption will result if things are left as they are.
In recent years, among the exhaust emissions, carbon dioxide has become largely responsible for the phenomenon of global warming since far more carbon dioxide is being pro-duced than is recovered by nature. There is a strong demand, 20778~0 therefore, for the reduction of its overall production.
Investigations have thus far been made on the replace-ment of fossil fuels by other energy sources. Utilization of powers such as of solar heat, winds, waves, temperature difference between surface and deep-sea waters, and also of geothermal and nuclear powers has been studied and partly carried into practice.
Harnessing the energies from these sources for indus-trial and other uses, however, requires large-scale instal-lations exclusively designed for the particular purposes.The sites where such exclusive installations can be built are restricted to specific locations, usually remote from the energy-consuming urban areas.
If energy were transmitted from the site of such an exclusive installation all the way to a consuming area, as converted to electric energy as is customary in the art, the cost of transmission facilities and the energy loss involved would be quite enormous.
Transmission of energy in the form of light or heat is out of question because the energy would diminish before being transferred a distance of only several kilometers.
Assuming that a solar heat power plant was built some-where in a vast desert or highland, e.g., the Sahara, Arabi-an, or Australian desert, or the Tibet highland, it would be practically impossible in Japan to utilize the electric 2D778~
energy from that plant. Wherever located, the plant would be tens of thousands of kilometers away from this country, and the transmission line from the plant would have to cross an ocean or oceans.
S In municipal and suburban areas electricity is avail-able readily and relatively inexpensively at a late-night discount. Nevertheless, the recipients of the service are limited, and more effective utilization of the midnight power supply is desired.
3. OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the afore-described circumstances surrounding energy supply. It is an object of the present invention to supply energies that are inexhaustibly obtained in certain regions or by installa-tions as, for example, solar heat, wind, wave, seawater temperature differential, geothermal, and nuclear powers, and also the electric power available at low prices in the depth of night, efficiently and as desired to energy-consuming areas or during heavy demand periods.
Another object is to maintain the material balance involved within a practically closed system so as to avoid an increase in the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere that has deleterious effects upon the global environment.
For the purposes of describing the invention any of the energies obtained in the certain regions or during specific periods is called ~given energy'~.
Thus, the invention provides a method of supplying energy through the medium of methanol which is used as energy transportation and storage means, with the material balance maintained within a practically closed system to avoid unfa-vorable effects, e.g., upon the environment, which method comprises the steps of: water decomposition in which water is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen by electric energy ob-tained from a given energy source; methanol synthesis in which methanol is synthesized from carbon dioxide recovered in a subsequent carbon dioxide reccvery step and from the hydrogen obtained in the water decomposition step and then the synthesized methanol is separated from secondarily pro-duced water; methanol combustion in which the methanol that has been synthesized in the methanol synthesis step is burned to produce available energy; and carbon dioxide recovery in which carbon dioxide and water that have resulted from the methanol combustion step are separately recovered.
According to this method of energy supply, given energy is converted to electric energy and used in electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen, and the resulting hydrogen is combined with carbon dioxide that has been recovered in a carbon dioxide recovery step to synthesize methanol, with concomitantly produced thermal energy being recovered when necessary.
The synthesized methanol, a chemical substance that theoretically undergoes no energy attenuation and is a liquid convenient for transportation and storage, is shipped to an energy-consuming area or stored for a given period of time and then burned in the methanol combustion step for the recovery of its energy.
The carbon dioxide that has resulted from the combus-tion is recovered in the carbon dioxide recovery step and utilized in the synthesis of methanol as described above.
The water produced by the synthesis and burning of methanol is recycled to the electrolysis step for water decomposition.
Even if the water is drained off instead of being reused for electrolysis, it would be possible to supply water separately from somewhere else, e.g., the region where the given energy is available, and the system would practically remain closed.
The same is true of the carbon dioxide that results from the combustion of methanol and that which is used in the synthesis of methanol. They can be likewise procured from the region where the given energy is available. The energy supply method of the invention, therefore, can be carried in practice within a practically closed system, excluding the use and recovery of the given energy that are performed separately, without causing an increase in the overall carbon 2077~
dioxide concentration in the atmosphere.
The invention further provides a method of supplying energy through the medium of methanol which comprises the steps of: water decomposition in which water is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen by electric energy obtained from a given energy source; methanol synthesis in which methanol is synthesized from carbon dioxide recovered in a subsequent carbon monoxide combustion step and from the hydrogen ob-tained in the water decomposition step and also in a sub-sequent methanol decomposition step and then the synthesizedmethanol is separated from secondarily produced water; metha-nol decomposition in which the methanol that has been synthe-sized in the methanol synthesis step is decomposed into carbon monoxide and hydrogen by the energy from a given energy source; and carbon monoxide combustion in which the carbon monoxide that has been obtained in the methanol decom-position step is burned to produce available energy, while the carbon dioxide thereby produced is recovered.
In accordance with this energy supply method, given energy is converted to electric energy for use in electro-lysis of water to give hydrogen, and carbon dioxide recovered by combustion of carbon monoxide, hydrogen obtained by decom-position of water, and hydrogen obtained by decomposition of methanol are combined to synthesize methanol, the thermal energy generated then being recovered when necessary.
2~77880 The synthesized methanol is decomposed in the methanol decomposition step into carbon monoxide and hydrogen using the given energy, and the carbon monoxide is combusted to recover its energy.
The combustion also produces carbon dioxide, which is recovered and is used along with hydrogen for the synthesis of methanol. This energy supply method is performed like the first method in a practically closed system.
The energy supply method of the invention utilizes energy sources abundantly available in specific regions, such as solar heat, wind, wave, and seawater temperature differen-tial, geothermal, and nuclear powers, and also the electric power available at low prices in the depth of night even in urban and suburban areas. The method uses such energy in electrolysis of water and synthesis of methanol. Consequent-ly, the energy is converted to methanol, hydrogen, or other form which theoretically undergoes no attenuation, and long-dis-tance transportation and storage without energy loss is realized. The synthesized methanol is burned or is decom-posed while carbon monoxide is burned and the resulting thermal energy is recovered for use in industrial and other activities in an energy-consuming area or during an energy-consuming period.
In this way inexhaustible energy resources remote from the consuming areas can be effectively exploited. In the 20~8~
neighboring regions surrounding the consuming centers any surplus of electric energy is stored and is released when the system load becomes heavy. These features offer advantages including levelling of the operation of different power plants involved.
Moreover, because the process operates practically in a closed system except for the use and recovery of the energy, it can cause no such global environmental disruption as do the conventional methods that depend on fossil fuels for energy supply.
The present invention has been made in view of the afore-described circumstances surrounding energy supply. It is an object of the present invention to supply energies that are inexhaustibly obtained in certain regions or by installa-tions as, for example, solar heat, wind, wave, seawater temperature differential, geothermal, and nuclear powers, and also the electric power available at low prices in the depth of night, efficiently and as desired to energy-consuming areas or during heavy demand periods.
Another object is to maintain the material balance involved within a practically closed system so as to avoid an increase in the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere that has deleterious effects upon the global environment.
For the purposes of describing the invention any of the energies obtained in the certain regions or during specific periods is called ~given energy'~.
Thus, the invention provides a method of supplying energy through the medium of methanol which is used as energy transportation and storage means, with the material balance maintained within a practically closed system to avoid unfa-vorable effects, e.g., upon the environment, which method comprises the steps of: water decomposition in which water is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen by electric energy ob-tained from a given energy source; methanol synthesis in which methanol is synthesized from carbon dioxide recovered in a subsequent carbon dioxide reccvery step and from the hydrogen obtained in the water decomposition step and then the synthesized methanol is separated from secondarily pro-duced water; methanol combustion in which the methanol that has been synthesized in the methanol synthesis step is burned to produce available energy; and carbon dioxide recovery in which carbon dioxide and water that have resulted from the methanol combustion step are separately recovered.
According to this method of energy supply, given energy is converted to electric energy and used in electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen, and the resulting hydrogen is combined with carbon dioxide that has been recovered in a carbon dioxide recovery step to synthesize methanol, with concomitantly produced thermal energy being recovered when necessary.
The synthesized methanol, a chemical substance that theoretically undergoes no energy attenuation and is a liquid convenient for transportation and storage, is shipped to an energy-consuming area or stored for a given period of time and then burned in the methanol combustion step for the recovery of its energy.
The carbon dioxide that has resulted from the combus-tion is recovered in the carbon dioxide recovery step and utilized in the synthesis of methanol as described above.
The water produced by the synthesis and burning of methanol is recycled to the electrolysis step for water decomposition.
Even if the water is drained off instead of being reused for electrolysis, it would be possible to supply water separately from somewhere else, e.g., the region where the given energy is available, and the system would practically remain closed.
The same is true of the carbon dioxide that results from the combustion of methanol and that which is used in the synthesis of methanol. They can be likewise procured from the region where the given energy is available. The energy supply method of the invention, therefore, can be carried in practice within a practically closed system, excluding the use and recovery of the given energy that are performed separately, without causing an increase in the overall carbon 2077~
dioxide concentration in the atmosphere.
The invention further provides a method of supplying energy through the medium of methanol which comprises the steps of: water decomposition in which water is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen by electric energy obtained from a given energy source; methanol synthesis in which methanol is synthesized from carbon dioxide recovered in a subsequent carbon monoxide combustion step and from the hydrogen ob-tained in the water decomposition step and also in a sub-sequent methanol decomposition step and then the synthesizedmethanol is separated from secondarily produced water; metha-nol decomposition in which the methanol that has been synthe-sized in the methanol synthesis step is decomposed into carbon monoxide and hydrogen by the energy from a given energy source; and carbon monoxide combustion in which the carbon monoxide that has been obtained in the methanol decom-position step is burned to produce available energy, while the carbon dioxide thereby produced is recovered.
In accordance with this energy supply method, given energy is converted to electric energy for use in electro-lysis of water to give hydrogen, and carbon dioxide recovered by combustion of carbon monoxide, hydrogen obtained by decom-position of water, and hydrogen obtained by decomposition of methanol are combined to synthesize methanol, the thermal energy generated then being recovered when necessary.
2~77880 The synthesized methanol is decomposed in the methanol decomposition step into carbon monoxide and hydrogen using the given energy, and the carbon monoxide is combusted to recover its energy.
The combustion also produces carbon dioxide, which is recovered and is used along with hydrogen for the synthesis of methanol. This energy supply method is performed like the first method in a practically closed system.
The energy supply method of the invention utilizes energy sources abundantly available in specific regions, such as solar heat, wind, wave, and seawater temperature differen-tial, geothermal, and nuclear powers, and also the electric power available at low prices in the depth of night even in urban and suburban areas. The method uses such energy in electrolysis of water and synthesis of methanol. Consequent-ly, the energy is converted to methanol, hydrogen, or other form which theoretically undergoes no attenuation, and long-dis-tance transportation and storage without energy loss is realized. The synthesized methanol is burned or is decom-posed while carbon monoxide is burned and the resulting thermal energy is recovered for use in industrial and other activities in an energy-consuming area or during an energy-consuming period.
In this way inexhaustible energy resources remote from the consuming areas can be effectively exploited. In the 20~8~
neighboring regions surrounding the consuming centers any surplus of electric energy is stored and is released when the system load becomes heavy. These features offer advantages including levelling of the operation of different power plants involved.
Moreover, because the process operates practically in a closed system except for the use and recovery of the energy, it can cause no such global environmental disruption as do the conventional methods that depend on fossil fuels for energy supply.
4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. l is a schematic diagram illustrating a working example (Example l) of the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example (Example 2) of the invention.
Fig. l is a schematic diagram illustrating a working example (Example l) of the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example (Example 2) of the invention.
5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(Example 1) An example of the invention will now be described with reference to Fig. l. A section A represents a region with abundant energy supply, in this case an African desert region prolific in solar energy and having a large enough land to set up installations for energy conversion such as solar cell arrays.
Another section B represents an energy-consuming re-gion, e.g., Japan.
In the section A solar energy is converted by a solar cell system to electric energy, which in turn is supplied to a water decomposition step 1. The quantity of energy used in the step, e.g., is 57.8 kcal/mol.
The water decomposition step 1 gives oxygen (1~O2), which is released to the atmosphere, and hydrogen (3H2), which is used, together with carbon dioxide to be mentioned later, in a methanol synthesis step 2.
The reaction formula of the methanol synthesis is 3H2+CO2 CH3OH+H2O. This reaction is exothermic and pro-duces 11.8 kcal/mol of energy, which is recovered.
Methanol synthesized in the methanol synthesis step and water as a by-product are separated. Water is either dis-charged from the system or is recycled to the above-mentioned water electrolysis step 1.
The synthesized methanol from the synthesis step 2 is transported to the section B, where it is burned in a metha-nol combustion step 3. Here the reaction formula is CH3OH+O2 _ CO2+2H2O. The thermal energy thus generated is recovered, at the rate of 46 kcal/mol. This energy is consumed in industrial and other applications.
Thus, the energy used for the electrolysis of water is almost completely recovered in the steps of methanol syn-thesis and combustion, and the recovered energy is utilized for various purposes.
_ g 2077~
The carbon dioxide and water that have resulted from the combustion of methanol are separated by a carbon dioxide recovery step 4, and wacer is discharged from the system.
Even when both water and carbon dioxide are released to the atmosphere, they are eventually recovered from nature and elsewhere separately for reuse, in what may practically be called a closed system.
It is further possible to transport the hydrogen ob-tained in the water decomposition step 1 to the section B, carry out the methanol synthesis step 2 in the same section, recover the resulting thermal energy, and utilize it, togeth-er with the energy that the methanol combustion step 3 yields, in industrial and other activities.
(Example 2) Another example of the invention will be described below in conjunction with Fig. 2.
In this example the late-night power supply that is obtainable easily and relatively inexpensively in municipal and suburban areas is used as the energy source for the water decomposition step 1.
The oxygen (~2) that has resulted from the water decomposition step 1 is released to the atmosphere, while the hydrogen (H2) from the same step is temporarily kept in storage. The latter is used, during the high demand period such as daytime when the energy consumption is large, for the methanol synthesis, along with the carbon dioxide to be described later, in the methanol synthesis step 2. The thermal energy produced by the methanol synthesis is recov-ered and allotted to industrial and other applications.
The methanol that has been synthesized in the methanol synthesis step 2 and the water produced secondarily are then separated. The water is discharged from the system or is recycled to the water electrolysis step 1. The methanol is sent to the methanol decomposition step 3, where it is sepa-rated into carbon monoxide and hydrogen by dint of the energy derived from the late-night power. The reaction that takes place in the step 3 is endothermic. The hydrogen thus ob-tained is transferred to the methanol synthesis step 2 for use in the synthesis of methanol.
The carbon monoxide is once stored and, when energy consumption increases due to heavy power demand, e.g., in the daytime, it is pumped out and burned to yield adequate ther-mal energy, which is recovered for use in industrial and other activities. The carbon dioxide that has resulted from the combustion of carbon monoxide is used in methanol synthe-sis in the methanol synthesis step 2.
The energy balances in the two examples thus far de-scribed are given in Figs. l and 2.
(Example 1) An example of the invention will now be described with reference to Fig. l. A section A represents a region with abundant energy supply, in this case an African desert region prolific in solar energy and having a large enough land to set up installations for energy conversion such as solar cell arrays.
Another section B represents an energy-consuming re-gion, e.g., Japan.
In the section A solar energy is converted by a solar cell system to electric energy, which in turn is supplied to a water decomposition step 1. The quantity of energy used in the step, e.g., is 57.8 kcal/mol.
The water decomposition step 1 gives oxygen (1~O2), which is released to the atmosphere, and hydrogen (3H2), which is used, together with carbon dioxide to be mentioned later, in a methanol synthesis step 2.
The reaction formula of the methanol synthesis is 3H2+CO2 CH3OH+H2O. This reaction is exothermic and pro-duces 11.8 kcal/mol of energy, which is recovered.
Methanol synthesized in the methanol synthesis step and water as a by-product are separated. Water is either dis-charged from the system or is recycled to the above-mentioned water electrolysis step 1.
The synthesized methanol from the synthesis step 2 is transported to the section B, where it is burned in a metha-nol combustion step 3. Here the reaction formula is CH3OH+O2 _ CO2+2H2O. The thermal energy thus generated is recovered, at the rate of 46 kcal/mol. This energy is consumed in industrial and other applications.
Thus, the energy used for the electrolysis of water is almost completely recovered in the steps of methanol syn-thesis and combustion, and the recovered energy is utilized for various purposes.
_ g 2077~
The carbon dioxide and water that have resulted from the combustion of methanol are separated by a carbon dioxide recovery step 4, and wacer is discharged from the system.
Even when both water and carbon dioxide are released to the atmosphere, they are eventually recovered from nature and elsewhere separately for reuse, in what may practically be called a closed system.
It is further possible to transport the hydrogen ob-tained in the water decomposition step 1 to the section B, carry out the methanol synthesis step 2 in the same section, recover the resulting thermal energy, and utilize it, togeth-er with the energy that the methanol combustion step 3 yields, in industrial and other activities.
(Example 2) Another example of the invention will be described below in conjunction with Fig. 2.
In this example the late-night power supply that is obtainable easily and relatively inexpensively in municipal and suburban areas is used as the energy source for the water decomposition step 1.
The oxygen (~2) that has resulted from the water decomposition step 1 is released to the atmosphere, while the hydrogen (H2) from the same step is temporarily kept in storage. The latter is used, during the high demand period such as daytime when the energy consumption is large, for the methanol synthesis, along with the carbon dioxide to be described later, in the methanol synthesis step 2. The thermal energy produced by the methanol synthesis is recov-ered and allotted to industrial and other applications.
The methanol that has been synthesized in the methanol synthesis step 2 and the water produced secondarily are then separated. The water is discharged from the system or is recycled to the water electrolysis step 1. The methanol is sent to the methanol decomposition step 3, where it is sepa-rated into carbon monoxide and hydrogen by dint of the energy derived from the late-night power. The reaction that takes place in the step 3 is endothermic. The hydrogen thus ob-tained is transferred to the methanol synthesis step 2 for use in the synthesis of methanol.
The carbon monoxide is once stored and, when energy consumption increases due to heavy power demand, e.g., in the daytime, it is pumped out and burned to yield adequate ther-mal energy, which is recovered for use in industrial and other activities. The carbon dioxide that has resulted from the combustion of carbon monoxide is used in methanol synthe-sis in the methanol synthesis step 2.
The energy balances in the two examples thus far de-scribed are given in Figs. l and 2.
Claims (2)
1. A method of supplying energy through the medium of methanol which is used as energy transportation and storage means with the material balance maintained within a practi-cally closed system, which method comprises the steps of:
water decomposition in which water is decomposed into hydro-gen and oxygen by electric energy obtained from a given energy source; methanol synthesis in which methanol is syn-thesized from carbon dioxide recovered in a subsequent carbon dioxide recovery step and from the hydrogen obtained in the water decomposition step and then the synthesized methanol is separated from secondarily produced water; methanol combus-tion in which the methanol that has been synthesized in the methanol synthesis step is burned to give energy; and carbon dioxide recovery in which carbon dioxide and water that have resulted from the methanol combustion step are separately recovered.
water decomposition in which water is decomposed into hydro-gen and oxygen by electric energy obtained from a given energy source; methanol synthesis in which methanol is syn-thesized from carbon dioxide recovered in a subsequent carbon dioxide recovery step and from the hydrogen obtained in the water decomposition step and then the synthesized methanol is separated from secondarily produced water; methanol combus-tion in which the methanol that has been synthesized in the methanol synthesis step is burned to give energy; and carbon dioxide recovery in which carbon dioxide and water that have resulted from the methanol combustion step are separately recovered.
2. A method of supplying energy through the medium of methanol which is used as energy transportation and storage means with the material balance maintained within a practi-cally closed system, which method comprises the steps of:
water decomposition in which water is decomposed into hydro-gen and oxygen by electric energy obtained from a given energy source; methanol synthesis in which methanol is syn-thesized from carbon dioxide recovered in a subsequent carbon monoxide combustion step and from the hydrogen obtained in the water decomposition step and also in a subsequent metha-nol decomposition step and then the synthesized methanol is separated from secondarily produced water; methanol decompo-sition in which the methanol that has been synthesized in the methanol synthesis step is decomposed into carbon monoxide and hydrogen by the energy from a given energy source; and carbon monoxide combustion in which the carbon monoxide that has been obtained in the methanol decomposition step is burned to give energy, while the carbon dioxide thereby produced is recovered.
water decomposition in which water is decomposed into hydro-gen and oxygen by electric energy obtained from a given energy source; methanol synthesis in which methanol is syn-thesized from carbon dioxide recovered in a subsequent carbon monoxide combustion step and from the hydrogen obtained in the water decomposition step and also in a subsequent metha-nol decomposition step and then the synthesized methanol is separated from secondarily produced water; methanol decompo-sition in which the methanol that has been synthesized in the methanol synthesis step is decomposed into carbon monoxide and hydrogen by the energy from a given energy source; and carbon monoxide combustion in which the carbon monoxide that has been obtained in the methanol decomposition step is burned to give energy, while the carbon dioxide thereby produced is recovered.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP230066/1991 | 1991-09-10 | ||
| JP3230066A JPH0565237A (en) | 1991-09-10 | 1991-09-10 | Energy supply method using methanol as medium |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2077880A1 true CA2077880A1 (en) | 1993-03-11 |
Family
ID=16902011
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002077880A Abandoned CA2077880A1 (en) | 1991-09-10 | 1992-09-09 | Method of supplying energy through medium of methanol |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0539244B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH0565237A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU656614B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2077880A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6736955B2 (en) | 2001-10-01 | 2004-05-18 | Technology Convergence Inc. | Methanol production process |
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| DE4332789A1 (en) * | 1993-09-27 | 1995-03-30 | Abb Research Ltd | Process for storing energy |
| WO2000025380A2 (en) * | 1998-10-27 | 2000-05-04 | Quadrise Limited | Electrical energy storage compound |
| WO2001083364A2 (en) * | 2000-05-03 | 2001-11-08 | Zero-M Limited | Fuel system |
| EA007184B1 (en) | 2001-04-10 | 2006-08-25 | Пфайзер Инк. | Pyrazole derivatives for treating hiv |
| JP3963172B2 (en) | 2001-11-06 | 2007-08-22 | 正好 松井 | Carbon dioxide hydroprocessing method, processing apparatus, and basic material for hydroprocessing |
| JP5145213B2 (en) * | 2005-04-15 | 2013-02-13 | ユニヴァーシティー オブ サザン カリフォルニア | Efficient and selective conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol, dimethyl ether and derivatives |
| SE531126C2 (en) * | 2005-10-14 | 2008-12-23 | Morphic Technologies Ab Publ | Method and system for production, conversion and storage of energy |
| DE102006034712A1 (en) * | 2006-07-27 | 2008-01-31 | Steag Saar Energie Ag | Method for reducing the CO2 emission of fossil-fired power plants |
| ES2315187B1 (en) * | 2007-08-22 | 2010-01-08 | Fundacion Cener-Ciemat | CARBON DIOXIDE SEQUEST SYSTEM. |
| EP2100869B1 (en) * | 2008-03-10 | 2019-11-27 | Edgar Harzfeld | Method for producing methanol by recovering carbon dioxide from exhaust gases of energy generation facilities powered by fossil fuels |
| AU2009246282A1 (en) * | 2008-05-16 | 2009-11-19 | University Of Southern California | Mitigating or eliminating the carbon footprint of human activities |
| DE102008027311A1 (en) * | 2008-06-07 | 2009-12-10 | Deutz Ag | Use of carbon dioxide from combustion exhaust gases and solar generated hydrogen for the production of liquid fuels |
| GB2461723B (en) * | 2008-07-10 | 2013-03-27 | Christopher Denham Wall | The economic conversion of waste carbon dioxide gas such as that produced by fossil fuel burning power stations, to bulk liquid fuels suitable for automobiles |
| WO2010118127A1 (en) * | 2009-04-10 | 2010-10-14 | University Of Southern California | Rendering coal as an environmentally carbon dioxide neutral fuel and a regenerative carbon source |
| KR20120005447A (en) * | 2009-04-10 | 2012-01-16 | 유니버시티 오브 써던 캘리포니아 | Rendering petroleum oil as an environmentally carbon dioxide neutral source material for fuels, derived products and as a regenerative carbon source |
| EP2360231A1 (en) * | 2010-02-16 | 2011-08-24 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Method and device for exploiting the emissions of an industrial assembly |
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| EP2438982A1 (en) | 2010-10-06 | 2012-04-11 | Silicon Fire AG | Method for preparing and using an alcohol and use of the alcohol to improve the efficiency and performance of a combustion engine |
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| JP5557255B2 (en) * | 2011-03-09 | 2014-07-23 | 株式会社日本製鋼所 | Reactant manufacturing method and manufacturing system using exhaust heat and renewable energy |
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| FR2977089A1 (en) * | 2011-06-17 | 2012-12-28 | Laurent Jean Serge Zibell | Storing and restoring the electrical energy e.g. wind energy, where the function of storing electrical energy is carried out by water electrolysis step, methanation step and reacting hydrogen obtained from electrolysis with carbon dioxide |
| DE102011107631A1 (en) | 2011-06-30 | 2013-01-03 | Torsten Dahl | Plant useful for using carbon dioxide from different sources, accumulating in temporally variable manner, for ecological energy, comprises e.g. device for producing hydrogen, and device for removing carbon dioxide-containing gases |
| US8596047B2 (en) | 2011-07-25 | 2013-12-03 | King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals | Vehicle electrocatalyzer for recycling carbon dioxide to fuel hydrocarbons |
| JP2013092065A (en) * | 2011-10-24 | 2013-05-16 | Hitachi Zosen Corp | Complex type thermal power system |
| GB201202791D0 (en) * | 2012-02-20 | 2012-04-04 | Simpson Robert | Methods and system for energy conversion and generation |
| EP2806115A1 (en) * | 2013-05-23 | 2014-11-26 | Ivan Raisz | High performance energy storage system using carbon-dioxide |
| AT517934B1 (en) | 2016-04-28 | 2017-06-15 | Mair Christian | Plant and process for the gas compression-free recovery and storage of carbon in energy storage systems |
| JP7207523B2 (en) * | 2019-04-01 | 2023-01-18 | 株式会社Ihi | hydrocarbon combustion system |
| US20230002914A1 (en) * | 2019-11-28 | 2023-01-05 | Southern Green Gas Limited | Renewable methanol production module |
| DE102022001997A1 (en) * | 2022-06-09 | 2023-12-14 | Olaf Kühl | Production of syngas from methanol made from syngas and/or CO2 |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2425939C2 (en) * | 1974-05-30 | 1982-11-18 | Metallgesellschaft Ag, 6000 Frankfurt | Process for operating a power plant |
| DE2447913A1 (en) * | 1974-10-08 | 1976-04-22 | Rheinische Braunkohlenw Ag | Utilising waste heat from e.g. power stations - for methanol dissociation giving prods for use in heating systems |
| US4128187A (en) * | 1975-10-02 | 1978-12-05 | Hitachi Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Ltd. | Secondary barrier construction for low temperature liquified gas storage tank carrying vessels |
| US4476249A (en) * | 1982-06-02 | 1984-10-09 | The Johns Hopkins University | Low cost method for producing methanol utilizing OTEC plantships |
| DE3926964A1 (en) * | 1989-08-16 | 1991-02-21 | Siemens Ag | METHOD FOR REDUCING THE CARBON DIOXIDE CONTENT OF THE EXHAUST GAS FROM A GAS AND STEAM TURBINE POWER PLANT AND POST-WORKING POWER PLANT |
| KR920000087A (en) * | 1990-02-16 | 1992-01-10 | 지. 에이치. 텔퍼 | A system that supplies power demand that varies periodically between the lowest and highest values |
| US5001902A (en) * | 1990-07-16 | 1991-03-26 | Garbo Paul W | Cogeneration system with low NOx combustion of liquid fuel |
-
1991
- 1991-09-10 JP JP3230066A patent/JPH0565237A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1992
- 1992-09-04 AU AU22131/92A patent/AU656614B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1992-09-09 EP EP92402463A patent/EP0539244B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-09-09 CA CA002077880A patent/CA2077880A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6736955B2 (en) | 2001-10-01 | 2004-05-18 | Technology Convergence Inc. | Methanol production process |
| US7714176B2 (en) | 2001-10-01 | 2010-05-11 | Technology Convergence Inc. | Methanol production process |
| US8188322B2 (en) | 2001-10-01 | 2012-05-29 | Technology Convergence Inc. | Methanol production process |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0539244A1 (en) | 1993-04-28 |
| AU656614B2 (en) | 1995-02-09 |
| EP0539244B1 (en) | 1996-03-06 |
| AU2213192A (en) | 1993-03-11 |
| JPH0565237A (en) | 1993-03-19 |
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